Hockey puck

ABSTRACT

A hockey puck including: a disc shaped body having an upper and lower surface. The disc shaped body having a central opening and two or more peripheral openings surrounding the central opening. The central and two or more peripheral openings extend from the upper surface to the lower surface. The hockey puck also having a central plug disposed in the central opening and extending above both the upper and lower surfaces; and a peripheral plug disposed in each of the two or more peripheral openings, at least some of the peripheral plugs extending above both the upper and lower surfaces.

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.11/350,544, filed Feb. 9, 2006, which is a continuation of U.S.application Ser. No. 11/154,783, filed on Jun. 16, 2005, which is acontinuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/804,523, filed on Mar. 19,2004, the contents of each of which are incorporated herein byreference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to hockey pucks, and moreparticularly, to a hockey puck having central and peripheral plugs forimproved weight distribution and/or performance over prior art hockeypucks.

2. Prior Art

Hockey pucks are known in the art which have inserts or plugs disposedin a solid body. One such hockey puck is manufactured by PROPUCK® andhas eight inserts disposed around a periphery of the hockey puck.Although the PROPUCK and other similar pucks known in the art have theiradvantages, they suffer from poor weight distribution which affectstheir performance when being struck and/or sliding along a playingsurface.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore it is an object of the present invention to provide a hockeypuck that overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art hockey pucks.

Accordingly, a hockey puck is provided. The hockey puck comprising: adisc shaped body having an upper and lower surface, the disc shaped bodyhaving a central opening and two or more peripheral openings surroundingthe central opening, the central and two or more peripheral openingsextending from the upper surface to the lower surface; a central plugdisposed in the central opening and extending above both the upper andlower surfaces; and a peripheral plug disposed in each of the two ormore peripheral openings, at least some of the peripheral plugsextending above both the upper and lower surfaces.

The peripheral plugs can be fabricated from a denser material than thebody. The peripheral plugs can be fabricated from Delrin® (AcetalHomopolymer) and similar materials and the body can be fabricated fromSBR elastomer and similar materials.

The peripheral plugs can be sized such that they cover a substantialportion of the periphery of the upper and lower surfaces.

The peripheral plugs can be offset from a circumference of the discshaped body towards the center plug such that no portion of theperipheral plugs are disposed at the circumference of the disc shapedbody.

The central plug can be circular in cross-section when viewed from oneof the upper and lower surfaces.

At least one of the two or more peripheral plugs can be oval incross-section when viewed from one of the upper and lower surfaces.

The central plug can be circular in cross-section when viewed from oneof the upper and lower surfaces and the two or more peripheral plugs cancomprise three peripheral plugs, each of which being oval incross-section when viewed from one of the upper and lower surfaces.

The central and two or more peripheral plugs can comprise a surface areagreater than a surface area of the disc shaped body excluding thecentral opening and two or more peripheral openings.

At least one of the central and one or more of the peripheral plugs canhave an opening and can have at least a portion of the disc shaped bodydisposed therein for positively locking the at least one of the centraland one or more of the peripheral plugs to the disc shaped body.

Also provided is a blank for a hockey puck. The blank comprising a discshaped body having an upper and lower surface, the disc shaped bodyhaving a central opening and two or more peripheral openings surroundingthe central opening, the central and two or more peripheral openingsextending from the upper surface to the lower surface.

The peripheral openings can be sized such that they cover a substantialportion of the periphery of the upper and lower surfaces.

The central opening can be circular in cross-section when viewed fromone of the upper and lower surfaces.

At least one of the two or more peripheral openings can be oval incross-section when viewed from one of the upper and lower surfaces.

The central opening can be circular in cross-section when viewed fromone of the upper and lower surfaces and the two or more peripheralopenings can comprise three peripheral openings, each of which beingoval in cross-section when viewed from one of the upper and lowersurfaces.

The central and two or more peripheral openings can comprise an areagreater than a surface area of the disc shaped body.

Further provided is a hockey puck comprising: a body having an upper andlower surface, the body having a central opening extending from theupper surface to the lower surface; and a central plug disposed in thecentral opening and extending above both the upper and lower surfaces.

Still further provided is a hockey puck comprising: a disc shaped bodyhaving an upper and lower surface, the disc shaped body having two ormore peripheral openings; and a peripheral plug disposed in each of thetwo or more peripheral openings, at least some of the peripheral plugsextending above both the upper and lower surfaces, wherein the two ormore peripheral plugs have a combined surface area greater than eitherone of the upper or lower surfaces excluding the two or more peripheralopenings.

The hockey puck can further comprise a central plug disposed in acentral opening formed in the disc shaped body, wherein a combinedsurface area of the central and two or more peripheral plugs have acombined surface area greater than either one of the upper or lowersurfaces excluding the central opening and two or more peripheralopenings.

Still yet further provided is a hockey puck comprising: a disc shapedbody having an upper and lower surface, the disc shaped body having twoor more peripheral openings; and a peripheral plug disposed in each ofthe two or more peripheral openings, at least some of the peripheralplugs extending above both the upper and lower surfaces, wherein the twoor more peripheral plugs are offset from a circumference of the discshaped body such that no portion of the two or more peripheral plugs aredisposed at the circumference.

The hockey puck can further comprise a central plug disposed in acentral opening formed in the disc shaped body.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the apparatus andmethods of the present invention will become better understood withregard to the following description, appended claims, and accompanyingdrawings where:

FIG. 1 illustrates an isometric view of a hockey puck according to anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates a sectional view of the hockey puck of FIG. 1 astaken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 illustrates a body of the hockey puck of FIG. 1 without the plugsinserted therein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Although this invention is applicable to numerous and various types ofhockey pucks, it has been found particularly useful in the environmentof hockey pucks for non-frozen playing surfaces. Therefore, withoutlimiting the applicability of the invention to non-frozen playingsurfaces, the invention will be described in such environment.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown a hockey puck accordingto an embodiment of the present invention, the hockey puck beinggenerally referred to by reference numeral 100.

The hockey puck 100 has a disc shaped body 102. The disc shaped body 102has an upper and lower surface 104, 106 and extends to a circumference108. On each of the upper and lower surfaces 104, 106 of the disc shapedbody 102 there is a first tapered portion 110 that tapers away from botha first central axis 112 and from the circumference 108 inward towards asecond central axis 114. The first tapered portion 110 terminates at afirst planar portion 116 that is substantially parallel with the firstcentral axis 112. The first planar portion 116 terminates into a secondtapered portion 118 that tapers towards both the first central axis 112and towards the second central axis 114. The second tapered portion 118terminates in a second planar portion 120 that is substantially parallelwith the first central axis 112.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3, the disc shaped body 102 further has acentral opening 122 and two or more peripheral openings 124 surroundingthe central opening 122. The central and two or more peripheral openings122, 124 extend from the upper surface 104 to the lower surface 106 ofthe disc shaped body 102.

A central plug 126 is disposed in the central opening 122 and extendsabove both the upper and lower surfaces 104, 106 of the disc-shaped body102. The central plug 126 is preferably larger in cross section than thediameter d_(c) of the central opening 122 to positively retain thecentral plug 126 in the central opening 122. The nature of the materialof the central plug 126 and/or disc shaped body 102 allow the centralplug 126 and/or disc shaped body 102 to be plastically deformed whilebeing disposed in the central opening 122. Alternatively, the centralplug 126 can be insert molded in the disc-shaped body 102.

Similarly, a peripheral plug 128 is disposed in each of the two or moreperipheral openings 124 such that at least some of the peripheral plugs128 extend above both the upper and lower surfaces 104, 106. Theperipheral plugs 128 are preferably larger in cross section than eachdiameter d_(p) of the peripheral opening 124 to positively retainperipheral plug 128 in the peripheral opening 124. As discussed abovewith regard to the central plug 126, the nature of the material of theperipheral plugs 128 and/or disc shaped body 102 allow the peripheralplugs 128 and/or disc shaped body 102 to be plastically deformed whilebeing disposed in their respective peripheral opening 124.Alternatively, the peripheral plugs 128 can be insert molded in thedisc-shaped body 102. In which case, it is preferred that the peripheraland/or central pugs 126, 128 have an opening 126 a, 128 a, respectivelyfor permitting the material of the body 102 to enter the openings 126 a,128 a. Not only does this positively lock the central and/or peripheralplugs 126, 128 in place on the body 102, but it also allows the body tobe compressed over its entire width when struck. The compression of thebody 102 has been found to increase the performance of the puck 100.

The peripheral plugs 128 can be fabricated from a denser material thanthe body 102. For example, the peripheral plugs 128 can be fabricatedfrom Delrin® (Acetal Homopolymer) and the body can be fabricated fromSBR elastomer. Other materials having similar characteristics can alsobe used. Such materials are well known to those of ordinary skill in theart. Furthermore, the peripheral plugs 128 can be sized such that theycover a substantial portion of the periphery of the upper and lowersurfaces. The configuration shown in FIG. 1 shows the plugs beingsubstantially larger in the direction of the periphery than the spaces130 between the peripheral plugs 128. Still further, the peripheralplugs 128 can be offset from the circumference 108 of the disc shapedbody 102 towards the center plug 126 by a distance O_(c). The offsetO_(c) is such that no portion of the peripheral plugs 128 are disposedat the circumference 108 of the disc shaped body 102. The two or moreperipheral plugs 128 with or without the central plug 126 can have acombined surface area that is greater than a surface area of the discshaped body 102 (excluding the openings). Each of these featuresindividually or in combination contributes to an improved weightdistribution and other improved characteristics which improve theperformance of the hockey puck 100 when struck and/or moving over aplaying surface.

The central plug 126 can be circular in cross-section when viewed fromone of the upper and lower surfaces 104, 106 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.However, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the central plug126 can be formed in other shapes without departing from the scope orspirit of the present invention. Furthermore, at least one of the two ormore peripheral plugs 128 is oval in cross-section when viewed from oneof the upper and lower surfaces 104, 106 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.However, those skilled in the art will also appreciate that any and/orall of the peripheral plugs 128 can be forming in other shapes withoutdeparting from the scope or spirit of the present invention. Stillfurther, although the central plug 126 and peripheral plugs 128 areshown having a similar shape as their corresponding openings 122, 124,such is given by way of example only and not to limit the scope orspirit of the present invention. For example, the portion of the plugs124, 128 disposed in the openings 122, 124, can be the same shape as theopening 122, 124, and the portion of the plugs 126, 128 which extendsabove the upper and lower surfaces 104, 106 of the body 102 can have ashape which differs from the shape of their corresponding opening 122,124. Further, the shape of the portion of the plugs 126, 128, extendingabove the upper surface 104 can differ from the shape of the portion ofthe plugs 126, 128, extending above the lower surface 106.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the central plug 126 iscircular in cross-section when viewed from one of the upper and lowersurfaces 104,106 and the two or more peripheral plugs 128 comprisesthree peripheral plugs 128, each of which is oval in cross-section whenviewed from one of the upper and lower surfaces 104, 106.

FIG. 3 illustrates a hockey puck blank (the disc shaped body 102) beforeinsertion of the central and peripheral plugs 126, 128. As discussedabove, the blank can be fabricated separately from the plugs 126, 128and the plugs inserted therein in a secondary operation. Furthermore,the plugs 124, 128 and/or the disc shaped body 102 can be fabricatedfrom any techniques known in the art, such as by molding or machining.As also discussed above, the plugs 126, 128 can be insert molded intheir respective openings of the disc shaped body 102.

While there has been shown and described what is considered to bepreferred embodiments of the invention, it will, of course, beunderstood that various modifications and changes in form or detailcould readily be made without departing from the spirit of theinvention. It is therefore intended that the invention be not limited tothe exact forms described and illustrated, but should be constructed tocover all modifications that may fall within the scope of the appendedclaims.

1. A hockey puck comprising: a disc shaped body having an upper andlower surface, the disc shaped body having a central opening and two ormore peripheral openings surrounding the central opening, the centraland two or more peripheral openings extending from the upper surface tothe lower surface; and a plurality of plugs for improving at least oneof a weight distribution and performance of the hockey puck, theplurality of plugs comprising: a central plug disposed in the centralopening and extending above both the upper and lower surfaces; and aperipheral plug disposed in each of the two or more peripheral openings,at least some of the peripheral plugs extending above both the upper andlower surfaces.
 2. The hockey puck of claim 1, wherein the peripheralplugs are fabricated from a denser material than the body.
 3. The hockeypuck of claim 2, wherein the peripheral plugs are fabricated from acetalhomopolymer and the body is fabricated from SBR elastomer.
 4. The hockeypuck of claim 1, wherein the peripheral plugs are sized such that theycover a substantial portion of the periphery of the upper and lowersurfaces.
 5. The hockey puck of claim 1, wherein the peripheral plugsare offset from a circumference of the disc shaped body towards thecenter plug such that no portion of the peripheral plugs are disposed atthe circumference of the disc shaped body.
 6. The hockey puck of claim1, wherein the central plug is circular in cross-section when viewedfrom one of the upper and lower surfaces.
 7. The hockey puck of claim 1,wherein at least one of the two or more peripheral plugs is oval incross-section when viewed from one of the upper and lower surfaces. 8.The hockey puck of claim 1, wherein the central plug is circular incross-section when viewed from one of the upper and lower surfaces andwherein the two or more peripheral plugs comprise three peripheralplugs, each of which is oval in cross-section when viewed from one ofthe upper and lower surfaces.
 9. The hockey puck of claim 1, wherein thecentral and two or more peripheral plugs comprise a surface area greaterthan a surface area of the disc shaped body excluding the centralopening and two or more peripheral openings.
 10. The hockey puck ofclaim 1, wherein at least one of the central and one or more of theperipheral plugs having an opening and having at least a portion of thedisc shaped body disposed therein for positively locking the at leastone of the central and one or more of the peripheral plugs to the discshaped body.
 11. A hockey puck comprising: a disc shaped body having anupper and lower surface, the disc shaped body having two or moreperipheral openings; and a plurality of plugs for improving at least oneof a weight distribution and performance of the hockey puck, theplurality of plugs comprising: a peripheral plug disposed in each of thetwo or more peripheral openings, at least some of the peripheral plugsextending above both the upper and lower surfaces, wherein the two ormore peripheral plugs have a combined surface area greater than eitherone of the upper or lower surfaces excluding the two or more peripheralopenings; and a central plug disposed in a central opening formed in thedisc shaped body, wherein a combined surface area of the central and twoor more peripheral plugs have a combined surface area greater thaneither one of the upper or lower surfaces excluding the central openingand two or more peripheral openings.
 12. A hockey puck comprising: adisc shaped body having an upper and lower surface, the disc shaped bodyhaving two or more peripheral openings; and a plurality of plugs forimproving at least one of a weight distribution and performance of thehockey puck, the plurality of plugs comprising: a peripheral plugdisposed in each of the two or more peripheral openings, at least someof the peripheral plugs extending above both the upper and lowersurfaces, wherein the two or more peripheral plugs are offset from acircumference of the disc shaped body such that no portion of the two ormore peripheral plugs are disposed at the circumference; and a centralplug disposed in a central opening formed in the disc shaped body.
 13. Amethod for improving at least one of a weight distribution andperformance of a hockey puck, the method comprising: forming a discshaped body having an upper and lower surface, a central opening and twoor more peripheral openings surrounding the central opening, disposing acentral plug in the central opening and extending above both the upperand lower surfaces; and disposing a peripheral plug in each of the twoor more peripheral openings, at least some of the peripheral plugsextending above both the upper and lower surfaces.